Checkers on fire
April 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers evened the best-of-five American Conference quarterfinal series tonight by roasting the Columbia Inferno 5-2. The victory forces a game five in Columbia on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Checkers took the ice with only 13 skaters to Columbia's 17. One of last night's goal scorers, Checkers forward Lee Falardeau, and pivotal defenseman Rory Rawlyk were both recalled to Hartford. A scratch due to a death in the family, the Checkers Kenton Smith was also missing. Smith hit last night's game winner to force a Game Four.
The Inferno came out blazing in the first period, scoring just 1:22 into the frame when Inferno forward Chanse Fitzpatrick tapped in a D'Arcy McConvey rebound to put Columbia up 1-0.
Struggling to compensate for the multiple losses in the line-up, Charlotte finally found its rhythm. With 2:20 left in the first, the Checkers Dusty Jamieson led a four-on-two breakaway down the ice. Checkers defenseman Dan Preston lit the lamp off a pass from All-Star rookie Ryan Glenn to make it even after one.
The second period yielded a pair of goals from Charlotte's Jamieson-Glenn duo. At 3:22, Glenn fed Jamieson who went one-on-one with Inferno goalie Mike Minard and wristed a shot into the net for the shorthanded score.
Six and half minutes later and this time on the power play, Glenn took a shot from the blue line. Minard deflected it but Jamieson flipped the rebound between the pipes to put the Checkers up 3-1. It was Jamieson's second goal of the evening and Glenn's third assist but the two were far from finished for the evening.
Deadly in the middle frame, the Inferno have scored five of their seven playoff goals in the second period. At 13:03 with the Inferno on the power play, Checkers goalie Alex Westlund dropped to the deck to stop a shot by Tim Smith. The Inferno's Eric Boulton picked up the rebound and sailed over Westlund's right shoulder for the score. The period ended with the Checkers up 3-2.
The third period was all Charlotte. Just 2:31 into the third period and on the penalty kill, Checkers Jamieson, Glenn, and Dwight Helminen broke free and went streaking down the ice. Glenn rang the buzzer, putting Charlotte up 4-2 with the Checkers second shorthanded goal of the game.
The Inferno pulled their goalie for an extra man in the waning seconds of the contest but Jamieson was waiting. He intercepted the puck and fed Eddie Pershin who scored on the empty net to close out the game 5-2.
Dusty Jamieson finished the night with 2 goals (including the game winner) and 3 assists. Ryan Glenn had 1 goal and 3 assists and Dan Preston notched a goal and an assist. Alex Westlund stopped 32 shots in the convincing Charlotte victory.
The Checkers travel to Columbia for the fifth and final game of the American Conference quarterfinal series on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Fans interested in traveling to Columbia for the game can purchase tickets by calling Ticketmaster at 704-522-6500. Call the Checkers front office at 704-342-4ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com for more information.
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